Belarus Reneges on SA/LW Destruction; De-mining on Track

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MINSK 001359

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PGOV MASS OSCE NATO BO
SUBJECT: Belarus Reneges on SA/LW Destruction; De-mining on Track


1. (SBU) Summary: Minsk previously asked the OSCE for help securing
stockpiles of excess Small Arms and Light Weapons (SA/LW),and in
their destruction. Several OSCE missions, following the UK's lead,
were ready to contribute. Now, however, Minsk has withdrawn its
offer to destroy excess SA/LW, and is only asking the OSCE to pay
to store these weapons. The GOB also will not destroy any MANPADS.
Belarus' MFA claims this change was due to a lack of interest on
the part of donors, a charge the British Embassy refutes. The MFA
also stated it has sufficient support to destroy its entire
stockpile of excess land mines. End summary.


GOB Reneges on Destruction
--------------


2. (SBU) On October 26, British charge Greg Quinn briefed Poloff on
recent developments on two proposed OSCE projects to secure
Belarusian SA/LW stockpiles and to destroy excess SA/LW. The
British Embassy is the main POC in Minsk for both programs.
Several assessment visits have already been conducted for these
projects, and in March the GOB destroyed 14 MANPADS as a
demonstration of its intent to move forward on these projects.
However, Quinn said in mid-October the British OSCE delegation in
Vienna asked the Belarusian delegation what the GOB would
contribute to these two projects to show their seriousness: whether
the GOB would pay to destroy excess ammunition, finally commit to
destroying MANPADS, or providing any other aid in kind. Quinn said
the Belarusian delegation replied that no MANPADS were to be
destroyed, and that the OSCE had misheard Minsk's request. Minsk
does not want any SA/LW destroyed, it just wants OSCE help in
securing the excess SA/LW it has. Quinn affirmed the UK's strong
preference is to destroy excess SA/LW, including MANPADS, not just
pay to secure it.


GOB Spins the Explanation
--------------


3. (SBU) Poloff met with Aleksandr Khainousky, Deputy Head of the
International Security and Arms Control Department at the MFA, on
October 31 to receive an update on the SA/LW projects and on
Belarus' de-mining needs. Khainousky said the GOB requested help
in July 2003 with two projects, SA/LW stockpile security and
destruction of surplus SA/LW. Improving stockpile security would
cost around three million Euros, and destruction of excess SA/LW
would cost around USD 800,000.


4. (SBU) Khainousky stressed the GOB wanted to destroy its excess
SA/LW, but the three or four UK-led assessment missions had all
stressed stockpile security only. After two years no donors
appeared willing to destroy excess SA/LW, so Minsk dropped that
project. Khainousky said Belarus has no excess MANPADS to destroy,
but decided to destroy 30, including the 14 destroyed in March, as
a gesture of goodwill. He said a few OSCE delegations had agreed
to provide some funding for stockpile security, but they will only
fund 20 percent of the project. Belarus' OSCE delegation plans to
create a "Friends of Belarus" group, similar to the previous
Friends of Tajikistan, to attract donors for SA/LW destruction.
[Note: Poloff subsequently shared this GOB view with Quinn, who
called it, "fanciful spin."]


De-Mining Looks Good
--------------


5. (SBU) Khainousky also addressed Belarusian requests for support
to destroy surplus anti-personnel land mines. Belarus has roughly
300,000 non-PFM land mines. Minsk is working with the NATO
Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA),with funding from Canada,
Lithuania and others, to destroy these mines. He said NAMSA
approved this project in late October. Belarus also has over three
and a half million PFM-1 and PFM-1S land mines, which are much
harder to destroy as they release toxic gases when exploded.
Khainousky said the European Commission has agreed to provide EURO
3 million to destroy this entire PFM stockpile, and the EC will
issue a tender in November for their destruction. Khainousky said
no more assistance is needed on land mines.


Minsk Disappointed in the U.S.
--------------


MINSK 00001359 002 OF 002



6. (SBU) Khainousky stated the MFA was disappointed the U.S.
delegation to the UN's First Committee called for a vote on
Belarus' recent WMD resolution (which passed 150 to 1, with only
the U.S. voting against). He said this resolution is approved by
consensus every three years, and that Minsk hopes the U.S. would
allow it to be passed by consensus procedure when it is before the
UNGA.


7. (SBU) Comment: Despite the MFA's spin, it appears Minsk has
changed its mind on the destruction of excess SA/LW. This follows
a previous reversal when the Belarusian OSCE delegation originally
said Minsk would destroy MANPAD stockpiles, but later changed its
story after the UK offered to provide industrial shears for the
destruction. The British, at least, seem reluctant to pay for
continued storage of excess SA/LW after destruction has been taken
off the table.

KROL